Cannabis Operations

​​​​​​Cannabis Operations may consist of cultivation-only operations, cannabis manufacturing or operations that combine both cultivation and manufacturing. Cannabis Manufacturing is subject to District Rule 201 -- General Permit Requirements. In most cases, cannabis cultivation-only is considered agricultural, not subject to a District permit and must utilize utility power or employ electrical generation technologies that are Distributive Generation certified with CARB. 

Please be advised the City of Sacramento’s definitions or categorization of operation type may differ from those utilized by the Sac Metro Air District and that other state and local regulations may apply to your Cannabis operation. You must contact the City of Sacramento's Office of Cannabis Management and Building Department to ensure your Cannabis project complies with their permitting, planning, zoning and other licensing requirements. 

Please contact Air District Permitting Staff at 279-207-1122 or email at permitting@airquality.org with any questions you may have regarding your facilities specific equipment and permitting requirements.​

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Operation ​Processes Requiring a District Permit to Operate

Cannabis Manufacturing Operations consist of various processes and equipment that may require individual permits. Please refer to the following guidance to determine whether a specific process or equipment meets the criteria for requiring a permit:

• Mechanical Processes (sifting, squeezing, or screening): Processes that have the potential to emit  Particulate Matter (PM) emissions greater than 2 pounds per day.

• Solvent Extraction Processes​ (CO2 or Ethanol) or Solvent Cleaning Operations: Extraction and Cleaning operations that use and emit solvents  in amounts that exceed 2 pounds per day.

• Odor/VOC Control Device: For Devices venting cannabis manufacturing ope​rations that are not necessary to prevent a nuisance, the Odor/VOC control device will be included on other cannabis processing permits. If the Odor/VOC control device is necessary to prevent a nuisance, it will require its own permit.
  

• Internal combustion engines​ (prime power, back-up power, or considered part of a process):  If the engine is rated at 50 brake horsepower or less and is considered part of a process tha​t would otherwise require a permit, it will require its own permit. If the engine is rated at greater than 50 brake horsepower, it will need a permit regardless of connection to a process.

• Combustion gas turbines (prime power, back-up power, or considered part of a process): If the turbine is rated at 3,000,000 BTU's per hour or less and is considered part of a process that would otherwise require a permit, it will ​require its own permit. If the turbine is rated at greater than 3,000,000 BTUs per hour, it will need a permit regardless of connection to a process.​ 

• Boilers and Heaters: Units that have an individual heat input rating or an aggregate heat input rating of 1,000,000 BTU's per hour or greater.  Only boilers or heaters used in the same process will be accumulated to determine the aggregate heat input rating.

Permit Fees​

All permit fees are based on District Rule 301.

When applying for a permit through Online Services, the appropriate Permit Fee schedule will be automatically determined based upon the selection of the General Equipment Description. If you wish to see what the fees are for ne​w equipment prior to applying, please use the following schedules in the Permit Fee Schedule to determine the initial application fee: ​

• Mechanical Processes – Please use Schedule 1 to determine the initial application fee. The application fee is based upon the rated horsepower of the electric motor or the cumulative total rated horsepower of all electric motors in the equipment. 
  

• Solvent Extraction Processes – Please use Schedule 9 to determine the initial application fee.

• Odor/VOC control device – Please use Schedule 1 to determine the initial application fee. The application fee is based upon the rated horsepower of the electric motor powering the blower. ​
  

• Internal Combustion Engine – Please use Schedule 7 to determine the initial application fee. The application fee is based upon the rated horsepower of the engine.
  

• Gas Turbines – Please use Schedule 2 to determine the initial application fee. The application fee is based upon the maximum rated heat input expressed in BTUs per hour.
  

• Boilers and Heaters – Please use Schedule 2 in the Permit Fee Schedule to determine the initial application fee. The application fee is based upon the maximum rated heat input expressed in BTUs per hour.
  

For questions regarding the application fee, please email permitting@airquality.org  or call 279-207-1122.​